What is a sailor's shirt?
Telnyashka (Breton shirt, marinière) is a knitted garment with alternating horizontal contrasting stripes, most often blue and white.
Historically, this garment appeared in 1858 as part of the official uniform of the French navy in Brittany. The original standard called for exactly 21 stripes on the fabric.
Coco Chanel introduced the striped shirt into women's fashion after a trip to the French coast. The designer made the striped shirt a symbol of nautical style and a new casual aesthetic, freed from rigid corsets.
Main types
Modern brands produce several basic variations of the Breton shirt, which differ in cut, fabric density, and details:
- Classic long sleeve: It is made from thick cotton and has a straight cut, long or 3/4 sleeves and a characteristic wide boat neckline.
- T-shirt-swimming shirt: A basic summer option with short sleeves and a standard round neckline.
- Sweater-vest: A padded version made of wool or cashmere. These styles often feature a voluminous oversized fit, a high stand-up collar, or a polo collar with a metal zipper.
In addition to the traditional blue and white color scheme, classic color schemes include black and white and red and white stripes.
What to combine with
Thanks to its geometric yet neutral print, the sailor shirt easily integrates into a variety of stylistic trends.
- Everyday base: A striped long sleeve top is paired with straight blue or white jeans, a classic beige trench coat, and flat shoes—white sneakers or leather loafers.
- Smart casual: A striped shirt is worn under a structured single- or double-breasted jacket. The outfit is completed with tailored trousers with creases and ankle boots.
- Parisian Chic: The aesthetic revolves around pairing a Breton shirt with an A-line midi skirt or a silk slip skirt. The look is completed with ballet flats and pops of bright color, such as a red crossbody bag or classic red lipstick.
